Tenancy question

[AugustMummy8]

Hi all

I am joint tenant on a housing association property with my partner.

My mum and younger brother live in a private rent but landlord wants to sell.

With rent prices high, im not sure my mum would pass an affordability check on her own for a new place. My brother is recently self employed and hasn’t filled out tax return etc yet so doubt his income would qualify right now.

my question is could I technically go as joint applicant on new private rent property to pass affordability checks while still living in my property?

thanks

Not without risking your own HA tenancy no.

I know it won’t give them much certainty of timescales or when they can expect to be in their own place but if they aren’t able to get another private rental property then they must wait for the landlord to follow the proper steps to evict them. It is not worth risking your tenancy. Circumstances such as these are why the system exists and even if they need to first go into temporary accommodation they will be able to be housed with time and will be higher up the list for being ‘homeless’. It’s is important that they do not give up the tenancy they have now as this will close this route for them.

I personally feel relieved that my taxes can help towards local authority housing as your mum and brother, through no fault of their own, will need a home and aren’t able to secure one privately at the moment. I would hope that if I were in a similar position that I would also be able to be housed. You don’t mention any arrears so presumably they are and would continue to pay rent whether it was private or not, if they can pay and just are ineligible for private then this is the most sensible route :)

Can you not act as a guarantor instead of being on the tenancy?

It’s just really frustrating as they’ve both been doing just fine paying rent and bills between them for years. When my dad moved out years ago mum just carried on the tenancy and my brother stepped up to help more although he’s not named on the agreement.

However, applying for a new private rent not sure she’d pass affordability on her own if that’s how it works even though they’ve been affording it for over 6 years in the current house.

As suggested above, ask if you can be a guarantor. I've accepted that with a single mum who was self-employed and had a poor credit history.

The rental market is really tough at the moment at least where we are, I’d really recommend speaking to the landlord first & foremost to see if they have any other properties or failing that if they know any other landlord’s who do and would take your mum on the back of their recommendation.

I know where we are that to get accepted now at pretty much any property to rent you need not just to be able to pass the affordability checks & provide deposit but 99% now require a homeowner guarantor to get approved so it can be really tricky. If she can get a foot in the door elsewhere via the current landlord then that’s probably her best bet.